Support device for supporting an overhead branch cutter

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a support device for a work apparatus including a branch cutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,464 discloses a belt arrangement for supporting a portable handheld work apparatus. The belt arrangement is especially for supporting or carrying a brushcutter.

The belt arrangement comprises a backplate having shoulder belts attached thereto. These shoulder belts have respective forward ends. A lateral strap starts from the backplate and runs laterally to the front. The lateral strap ends with its forward end approximately in the lower region of the chest of the operator. In addition, a lateral support plate is provided as a support device on which the work apparatus is attached. The support plate is, on the one hand, connected via a support strap to the backplate and, on the other hand, is connected via the support strap to the lateral strap. A hip belt is provided and, in the region of its rearward end, the hip belt is connected to the lower portion of the backplate and lies below the lateral strap. The hip belt comes to rest against the hips of the operator. The hip belt is open in the direction toward the support plate and its forward end lies below approximately the end of the lateral strap and the hip belt can be connected to the support strap of the carrier plate. The free forward ends of the shoulder belt lie separated from each other and spaced from the forward end of the hip belt as well as from the forward end of the lateral strap. Lateral connecting straps are provided which connect the free forward ends of the shoulder belts to the lower region of the backplate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a support device which permits an operator to work with a portable handheld work apparatus, such as an overhead branch cutter, in a manner which saves strength and is not tiring.

The support device of the invention is for carrying a portable handheld work apparatus including an overhead branch cutter. The work apparatus is held on the body of an operator with a belt arrangement and the support device includes: a cup for receiving the work apparatus therein; a support strap fixed on the cup and having respective free ends; and, means for coupling the free ends to the belt arrangement.

The housing of an overhead branch cutter can be positioned in the cup of the support device so that the weight of the overhead branch cutter is transmitted to the belt arrangement via the cup and the support device. The belt arrangement transmits the weight uniformly to the shoulders of the operator. It is practical to so configure the support device that it can be coupled to an existing belt arrangement as used, for example, for carrying a brushcutter. As part of the invention, it is provided that the cup is substantially stable with respect to form and is advantageously made of plastic. In this way, the apparatus housing, which is mounted in the cup, is stabilized and the work with the apparatus is simplified. In order to easily adapt the support strap to different operators, the invention provides that the support device can be adjustably coupled to the belt arrangement. The cup advantageously includes openings which reduce the weight of the support device and function for cooling the work apparatus with ambient air.

The cup is advantageously formed from an approximately U-shaped elongated member and longitudinal straps which connect the free leg ends of the elongated member to each other and define the edge of the openings of the cup. With the openings so formed in the cup, the unimpeded inflow of cooling and combustion air is facilitated as is the unimpeded outflow of the cooling air and the exhaust gases.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support device includes a transverse strap, which is fixed to the support strap at two locations and, with the support strap, defines a ring which forms the opening edge of the cup. The transverse strap is especially arranged on a side of the elongated member which faces toward the operator. The transverse strap can be displaced in its longitudinal direction relative to the elongated member. The transverse strap runs especially in a loop arranged on the elongated member. In order to be able to simply and rapidly fix the support strap to the support device, it can be provided that one end of the support strap is attached to the belt arrangement via an insert coupling, especially via an insert latch. One element of the insert latch is arranged on the support strap and the counterpiece of the insert coupling is arranged on the belt assembly.

According to another feature of the invention, a leg strap is provided with which the cup can be fixed to the thigh of the operator. In order to easily and rapidly adapt the leg strap to different operators, and to be able to easily mount and remove the support straps, the belt strap is provided with an adjustable latch.

The cup is at least partially padded on its inner side. In this way, a firm seat of the apparatus housing in the cup is achieved and tolerances are compensated. In order to permit the operator to comfortably support the work apparatus on the thigh, the cup is at least padded on the side facing toward the body of the operator. With this padding, vibrations are also damped which are transmitted to the housing by the drive motor of the work apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic of a belt arrangement having a support device for an overhead branch cutter;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic of the support device shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic side view of the support device of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> with an overhead branch cutter mounted therein;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic plan view of an insert latch; and,

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a section view taken along line V—V of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a support device <b>1</b> for carrying a branch cutter <b>3</b> (see <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>). The support device <b>1</b> is fixed to a belt arrangement <b>2</b>. The belt arrangement <b>2</b> corresponds to a usual arrangement for carrying portable handheld work apparatus and is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,464 incorporated herein by reference. The belt arrangement <b>2</b> includes the following: a backplate <b>4</b> with two shoulder belts <b>5</b> attached thereto; a lateral strap <b>6</b>, a hip belt <b>7</b> and a load-bearing strap <b>8</b>.

A connecting strap <b>9</b> connects the lateral strap <b>6</b> and the hip belt <b>7</b> on the forward side of the operator <b>17</b>. A first fastening member <b>10</b> is arranged on the connecting strap <b>9</b> and a second fastening member is connected to the rearward end of the hip belt <b>7</b>. The support device <b>1</b> includes a support strap <b>11</b>. A matching part <b>25</b> to the fastening member <b>10</b> is mounted on each end of the support strap <b>11</b> with the fastening members <b>10</b> being mounted on the belt arrangement <b>2</b>.

An embodiment for a fastening member <b>24</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 5</figref> is explained hereinafter.

As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the support device <b>1</b> comprises a U-shaped elongated member <b>12</b>, the support strap <b>11</b> and a transverse strap <b>13</b>. The elongated member <b>12</b> is enclosed by straps at the upper region thereof. At the end of the elongated member <b>12</b>, which faces away from the operator <b>17</b>, the support strap <b>11</b> surrounds the elongated member <b>12</b> and, on the side of the elongated member <b>12</b>, which faces toward the operator <b>17</b>, a transverse strap <b>13</b> surrounds the elongated member <b>12</b>. In the same way, it is possible that the support strap <b>11</b> is arranged on the end of the elongated member <b>12</b> which faces toward the operator and the transverse strap <b>13</b> is arranged on the opposite-lying end. The transverse strap <b>13</b> is fixed at both longitudinal ends of the elongated member <b>12</b> to the support strap <b>11</b> so that the transverse strap <b>13</b> and the section of the support strap <b>11</b>, which lies between the attachment locations <b>14</b> of the transverse strap <b>13</b>, define a ring which also contains the longitudinal straps <b>16</b>. The longitudinal straps <b>16</b> connect the legs of the elongated member <b>12</b> at their longitudinal ends.

The longitudinal straps <b>16</b> can be formed by different arrangements. In order to fulfill its function, it is, for example, also possible to configure the transverse strap <b>13</b> as a closed ring, to which respective ends of a two-part support strap <b>11</b> are fixed at two locations, or which, in order to achieve a greater stiffness, is enclosed by the support strap <b>11</b> on the end of the elongated member <b>12</b> which faces away from the operator <b>17</b>. In lieu of forming the longitudinal strap <b>16</b> as a ring, the longitudinal strap <b>16</b> can be formed by belts which do not enclose the elongated member; instead, the belts are fixed at both ends to one of the longitudinal ends of the elongated member <b>12</b> at respective legs. The longitudinal belts <b>16</b> and the elongated member <b>12</b> conjointly define a cup <b>15</b> in which the housing <b>21</b> of an apparatus can be positioned. The cup <b>15</b> includes openings <b>29</b> which are formed by the intermediate spaces between the longitudinal straps <b>16</b> and the elongated member <b>12</b> as well as by cutouts in the elongated member <b>12</b>. At both legs, the elongated member <b>12</b> has loops <b>18</b> in which the transverse strap <b>13</b> and the support strap <b>11</b> are arranged so as to be movable in their longitudinal direction.

Padding <b>20</b> is applied on the side of the cup <b>15</b> facing toward the operator <b>17</b>. The padding <b>20</b> increases the carrying comfort for the operator <b>17</b> and avoids pressure locations. Padding <b>19</b> is provided on the inner side of the cup <b>15</b> and fixes the housing <b>21</b> of the apparatus mounted in the cup <b>15</b>. The padding <b>19</b> on the inner side of the cup <b>15</b> can be configured differently depending upon the housing shape of the work apparatus to be accommodated. A leg strap <b>22</b> is arranged on the elongated member <b>12</b>. With the leg strap <b>22</b>, the cup <b>15</b> can be fixed to the thigh of the operator <b>17</b>. The leg strap <b>22</b> is closed by the attachment member <b>24</b> and the counterpiece <b>25</b> which advantageously define a latchable insert latch <b>23</b> which is easy to open. The support device <b>1</b> is also attached to the belt arrangement with such an insert latch <b>23</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 5</figref>. The attachment member <b>24</b> is configured as an insert coupling and is fixed to a first belt end. The counterpiece <b>25</b> has lateral latching arms or detents <b>26</b> which snap into lateral latch openings <b>27</b> of the attachment member <b>24</b> whereby the insert latch <b>23</b> is closed. To open the insert latch <b>23</b>, the detents <b>26</b> are pressed down whereby they come clear of the latch openings <b>27</b>. The counterpiece <b>25</b> can be adjusted in length on an end of a belt which is to be connected to the first belt end.

In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, a housing <b>21</b> of an overhead branch cutter is shown which is mounted in the support device <b>1</b>. The support strap <b>11</b> of the support device <b>1</b> encloses the housing <b>21</b> at its periphery at an elevation whereat a sufficient attachment of the housing <b>21</b> is ensured and the inflowing and outflowing air is at most insignificantly hindered. The base <b>28</b> of the housing <b>21</b> is seated on the elongated member <b>12</b>. The lateral fixing takes place via longitudinal straps <b>16</b> which are here defined by the support strap <b>11</b> and the transverse strap <b>13</b> and the padding <b>19</b> applied to the inner side of the elongated member <b>12</b>.

It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.